Ombudsman yet to receive Bolante counter-affidavit

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman on Friday said it has yet to receive the counter-affidavit of former Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante in connection with the probe on the P728-million fertilizer fund mess. Assistant Ombudsman Jose de Jesus belied earlier reports that the alleged architect of the multi-million fund scam has already submitted through one of his counsels his counter-affidavit. In a radio interview, De Jesus said the only affidavits that the Ombudsman had received were those submitted earlier by Representatives Nanette Castello-Adaza and Carmencita Reyes. In consideration, the assistant ombudsman said they would still wait for two to three more days for the embattled former Agriculture official's affidavit. De Jesus said he was not discounting the fact that the document could have been sent to their office via courier and only got stuck in the mail, causing the delay. In three days' time, if no affidavit from Bolante arrives at the Office of the Ombudsman, the investigating panel will be forced to carry on with the investigation even without the former government official's response. "We will consider the case submitted without his counter-affidavit," De Jesus said. The Office of the Ombudsman had earlier set a November 8 deadline for Bolante to submit an affidavit, but the latter's camp requested an extension. The Ombudsman extended the deadline until November 20. "Hindi namin kailangan ang kanyang counter affidavit kung ayaw na niyang mag-submit ng counter affidavit (We don't need his counter-affidavit if he does not want to submit one)," De Jesus said. However, De Jesus assured that even without Bolante's side of the story, the investigating panel would still ensure to sift through all the evidence, documents, and affidavits they have so far, before releasing its results. "Pero hindi namin sinasabi kung ano ang resulta ng kaso. Titignan muna naming ang complaint, ang sagot ng iba, ang mga dokumentong pinadala sa amin. At saka kami magdedesiyon," De Jesus said. Asked if Congress could use in their respective investigations the documents obtained by the Ombudsman and the results that it would be drawing up, De Jesus said they would turn over copies of them only upon request from the two chambers. Bolante has repeatedly denied in Senate and House hearings that there were irregularities in the fertilizer fund program, saying most of the funds were accounted for. He has likewise cleared President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of any involvement in the project. - GMANews.TV